Patents Issued in April 12, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070081117
    Abstract: A display having a substrate, a plurality of pixel units, a plurality of driver chips, a group of bonding pads, a first group of wires, a second group of wires, and a flexible printed circuit film is provided. The substrate has a display area and a peripheral area. The pixel units are arrayed on the display area. The driver chips are connected in cascade and arranged on the peripheral area. The first group of wires is utilized for connecting to the group of bonding pads and two of the driver chips simultaneously. The second group of wires is utilized for connecting the driver chips in cascade. The flexible printed circuit film is utilized for connecting to the group of bonding pads and utilized for applying signals to the driver chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Po-Yuan Liu, Sheng-Kai Hsu, Kuo-Chih Lee
  • Publication number: 20070081118
    Abstract: Disclosed is an LCD device and a method for fabricating the same, capable of preventing defects derived from a defective UV-curing of a sealant while employing one-drop fill technology. The LCD device includes an array substrate having a metal signal line, a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, a color filter substrate having a light shielding pattern and a color filter, a sealant interposed between the substrates and cured in order to fixedly combine the array substrate with the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate through one-drop fill technology. The shielding pattern is made of resin including a transparent heat-sensitive pigment, in which a color of the heat-sensitive pigment is changed to black through a heat-sensitive reaction and UV light passes through the heat-sensitive pigment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Choel Lee, Suk Choi
  • Publication number: 20070081119
    Abstract: Hide & See glasses were designed for playing poker, Some players are wearing sunglasses to hide their eyes from their opponents. While this is good as it hides your eyes it is difficult to see the cards clearly through dark sunglasses, especially in poor lighting conditions. Hide & See Through the design of the lens being dark smoke polarized and a clear lens inserted and positioned through the polarized lens at the lower part of the lens, hides your eyes from other players while giving you clear view of your cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Zoltan Mayer, Frank Rallo
  • Publication number: 20070081120
    Abstract: A detachable shelter frame for mounting in front of a primary spectacles frame which includes a frame body mounting two lenses in position, wherein the detachable shelter frame includes two auxiliary lenses, a shelter bridge, and two resilient mounting devices. The resilient mounting devices are spacedly provided at the shelter frame for detachably mounting the shelter frame in front of the primary spectacles frame, wherein each of the resilient mounting devices includes a resilient arm extended from the shelter bridge and an engaging member. The engaging member is extended from the resilient arm for pressing against the rear surface of the respective lens of the primary spectacles frame in such a manner that the two resilient arms substantially pull the two engaging members towards the primary spectacles frame for mounting the shelter frame in front of the primary spectacles frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Yiling Xie
  • Publication number: 20070081121
    Abstract: Improved eyewear is disclosed. The eyewear comprises a frame member and a lens. The eyewear also includes circuitry within the frame member for enhancing the use of the eyewear. A system and method in accordance with the present invention is directed to a variety of ways to enhance the use of eyeglasses. They are: (1) media focals, that is, utilizing the eyewear for its intended purpose and enhancing that use by using imaging techniques to improve the vision of the user; (2) telecommunications enhancements that allow the eyeglasses to be integrated with telecommunication devices such as cell phones or the like; and (3) entertainment enhancements that allow the eyewear to be integrated with devices such as MP3 players, radios, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Scott Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070081122
    Abstract: An eyeglasses lamp includes a fixed seat member, a movable support member, and a lamp; the fixed seat member has a connecting part joined to an eyeglasses temple; the fixed seat member has a hollow pivotal part projecting from the connecting part thereof; the movable support member is fitted in and pivoted to the hollow pivotal part of the fixed seat member at a pivotal portion thereof such that it can be angularly moved to various orientations in relation to the fixed seat member; the movable support member has a fastening part joined to the pivotal portion thereof; the lamp is fastened to the fastening part of the movable support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Chih-Hung Huang
  • Publication number: 20070081123
    Abstract: Improved eyewear is disclosed. The eyewear comprises a frame member and a lens. The eyewear also includes circuitry within the frame member for enhancing the use of the eyewear. A system and method in accordance with the present invention is directed to a variety of ways to enhance the use of eyeglasses. They are: (1) media focals, that is, utilizing the eyewear for its intended purpose and enhancing that use by using imaging techniques to improve the vision of the user; (2) telecommunications enhancements that allow the eyeglasses to be integrated with telecommunication devices such as cell phones or the like; and (3) entertainment enhancements that allow the eyewear to be integrated with devices such as MP3 players, radios, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Scott Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070081124
    Abstract: Improved eyewear is disclosed. The eyewear comprises a frame member and a lens. The eyewear also includes circuitry within the frame member for enhancing the use of the eyewear. A system and method in accordance with the present invention is directed to a variety of ways to enhance the use of eyeglasses. They are: (1) media focals, that is, utilizing the eyewear for its intended purpose and enhancing that use by using imaging techniques to improve the vision of the user; (2) telecommunications enhancements that allow the eyeglasses to be integrated with telecommunication devices such as cell phones or the like; and (3) entertainment enhancements that allow the eyewear to be integrated with devices such as MP3 players, radios, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Scott Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070081125
    Abstract: Improved eyewear is disclosed. The eyewear comprises a frame member and a lens. The eyewear also includes circuitry within the frame member for enhancing the use of the eyewear. A system and method in accordance with the present invention is directed to a variety of ways to enhance the use of eyeglasses. They are: (1) media focals, that is, utilizing the eyewear for its intended purpose and enhancing that use by using imaging techniques to improve the vision of the user; (2) telecommunications enhancements that allow the eyeglasses to be integrated with telecommunication devices such as cell phones or the like; and (3) entertainment enhancements that allow the eyewear to be integrated with devices such as MP3 players, radios, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Scott Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070081126
    Abstract: An electro-active spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens includes a first lens optic. The disclosed lens also includes a first electro-active zone positioned in a cooperative relationship with the first lens optic. In certain embodiments, the electro-active lens includes a range finder positioned in a cooperative relationship with the electro-active lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: E-Vision, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, Dwight Duston, Dan Katzman
  • Publication number: 20070081127
    Abstract: A fundus camera (10) obtains a retinal image using a light source (62), a ring aperture (58) conjugate to the cornea, and a first aperture (54) conjugate to the iris. An apertured mirror (52) redirects the ring illumination toward the eye. An objective lens (50) between the apertured mirror (52) and the eye has an entrance pupil between the iris and the cornea of the eye. The objective lens (50) directs the ring illumination into the pupil of the eye and directs a reflected image-bearing light from the retina through the apertured mirror (52). A second aperture (64), conjugate to a plane between the cornea and the iris of the eye, forms an aperture stop for the reflected image-bearing light. A third aperture (68) is conjugate to the cornea for blocking light reflected. A sensor (70) provides an image of the retina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Rongguang Liang, Jeffery Hawver
  • Publication number: 20070081128
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus which is easy to operate. The ophthalmic apparatus includes a measurement unit which measures characteristics of an examinee's eye, an image-pickup optical system for picking up an image of an anterior segment of the eye, a monitor having a screen where the picked-up anterior-segment image is displayed, a plurality of operation switches arranged on the screen or in the vicinity of the screen, a display control part which controls to display function information items indicating functions of the operation switches on the screen, and a changer which makes a selective changeover between a first operation mode in which a state where the function information items are not displayed on the screen is set as a standard state, and a second operation mode in which a state where the function information items are displayed on the screen is set as a standard state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Isogai, Naoto Honda
  • Publication number: 20070081129
    Abstract: A modular beam-recombining system includes a beam splitting/recombining module, a splitting-beam reflecting module, a polarizing beam splitter module, and an image displaying module. The beam splitting/recombining module is used to directly receive a beam from a light-emitting module, and splitting and recombining the beam. The splitting-beam reflecting module is connected with the beam splitting/recombining module for reflecting the beam from the beam splitting/recombining module. The polarizing beam splitter module is arranged correspondingly above the splitting-beam reflecting module for receiving the beam from the splitting-beam reflecting module, and the image displaying module is arranged correspondingly above the polarizing beam splitter module for receiving and reflecting the beam from the polarizing beam splitter module to form an image beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Chi-Wen Lin
  • Publication number: 20070081130
    Abstract: Embodiments of adjusting light intensity are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Gregory May, William Allen
  • Publication number: 20070081131
    Abstract: An optical system for a projection display device includes a first lens group having a first optic axis and a second lens group having a second optic axis, wherein the second lens group is adapted to rotate about the first optic axis. Alternatively, the optical system includes a first optic axis, and a lens group having a second optic axis, wherein the lens group is adapted to rotate about the first optic axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Antonius Van Der Palen, Tieying Ding
  • Publication number: 20070081132
    Abstract: A projector includes a housing including an opening, and a fixture installed on the opening of the housing. A slot is formed on the fixture. The projector further includes a lens-shading ring installed on the fixture in a slidable manner inside the slot, and a lens for projecting images. An end of the lens is installed inside the housing in a slidable manner inside the lens-shading ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Hsin-Hung Li
  • Publication number: 20070081133
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus (100) has a substrate table (30) on which a substrate (W) is mounted that can be moved holding the substrate, a position measuring system (18 and others) that measures positional information of the substrate table, and a correction unit (19) that corrects positional deviation occurring in at least either the substrate or the substrate table due to supply of a liquid. In this case, the correction unit corrects the positional deviation occurring in at least either the substrate or the substrate table due to the supply of the liquid. Accordingly, exposure with high precision using a liquid immersion method is performed on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: NIIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunaga Kayama, Dai Arai
  • Publication number: 20070081134
    Abstract: This invention relates to an exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate to a pattern. The exposure apparatus includes a unit, and a controller configured to determine, based on a state quantity of the unit upon executing one of calibration of the unit and measurement by the unit and a current state quantity of the unit, whether one of the calibration and the measurement is valid, and to control, upon determining that one of the calibration and the measurement is invalid, an operation of the exposure apparatus so that the one of the calibration and the measurement is re-executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshitaka AMANO
  • Publication number: 20070081135
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus, comprises a projection optical system configured to project light from a reticle onto a substrate, wherein the apparatus is configured to expose the substrate to light with a space between the projection optical system and the substrate filled with liquid; a stage configured to hold the substrate and to move; a supply unit configured to supply the liquid to the space; a recovery unit configured to recover the liquid from the space; and a detector configured to detect the liquid on at least one of the substrate and the stage, wherein the detector is configured to detect the liquid conveyed along a conveyance path along which the substrate is conveyed from a position below the projection optical system to a position from which the substrate is conveyed out from the exposure apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Kamono
  • Publication number: 20070081136
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus is provided which can supply and collect a liquid in a prescribed state, and that can suppress degradation of a pattern image projected onto a substrate. The exposure apparatus is provided with a nozzle member (70) having a supply outlet (12) that supplies a liquid (LQ) and a collection inlet (22) that collects a liquid (LQ), and a vibration isolating mechanism (60) that supports the nozzle member (70) and vibrationally isolates the nozzle member (70) from a lower side step part (7) of a main column (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Hara
  • Publication number: 20070081137
    Abstract: An exposure method is suitable for an off-axis illumination system. According to the method, a photomask having a first pattern and a second pattern is provided, and an analysis on the photomask is conducted to obtain a first light source intensity distribution corresponding to the first pattern and a second light source intensity distribution corresponding to the second pattern. The light source of the off-axis illumination system is adjusted to have the first light source intensity distribution for conducting exposure on the first pattern of the photomask, followed by adjusting the light source to have the second light source intensity distribution for conducting exposure on the second pattern of the photomask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Chun-Yu Lin
  • Publication number: 20070081138
    Abstract: During an alignment calibration process in a lithographic apparatus using a sensor to detect a property of a projected image at substrate level, a diffuser is inserted into the illumination beam to increase the range of angles of radiation incident on the substrate. Thereby it can be ensured that sufficient radiation enters the sensor even when the is a mismatch between the illumination mode used and the acceptance NA of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Kerkhof, Bearrach Moest
  • Publication number: 20070081139
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an exposure apparatus including an illumination optical system which forms an effective light source having a first polarization area where a mask pattern is illuminated with polarized light dominated by an electric vector component radial from a center position on an effective light source plane, and a second polarization area where the mask pattern is illuminated with light whose electric vector vibration is not biased in a specific direction; and a projection optical system which projects an image of the mask pattern onto an object to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuya Fukuhara, Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20070081140
    Abstract: A protrusion is provided on a barrier member which at least partly confines a liquid between a projection system and a substrate. The protrusion is closer to the projection system than other parts of the barrier member to promote a meniscus of liquid to adhere between the protrusion and the projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Beckers, Johannes Jacobs, Nicolaas Kate, Ferdy Migchelbrink
  • Publication number: 20070081141
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which a circular sensor is mounted to a substrate table with three leaf springs that are evenly spaced around a thermal axis of the sensor. The leaf springs are provided in two parts that are releasably attachable to each other. The leaf springs are elastic and allow some movement of the sensor relative to the substrate table on thermal expansion and contraction but ensure that the thermal center of the sensor does not move relative to the substrate table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Sebastiaan Cornelissen, Martinus Cuijpers, Cornelis Ottens, Peter Smits, Johannes Van De Wal
  • Publication number: 20070081142
    Abstract: A stage base includes a plate which supports a stage. The plate has a first structure and a second structure, and the first and second structures are coupled. The stage base further includes a component which is arranged on the plate and has a cooling unit, a coolant channel arranged to extend through the plate into the component, and a seal member arranged between the first structure and the second structure so as to surround the coolant channel, an interior and an exterior of the seal member being fastened with a fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki ONO
  • Publication number: 20070081143
    Abstract: A motion detection apparatus and method for detecting motion in an apparatus being monitored, and for controlling operations of the apparatus being monitored. First logic of the apparatus processes electrical signals output from an optical detector to produce values that represent movement or an absence of movement of the apparatus being monitored. Second logic of the apparatus receives the values from the first logic and processes them to determine whether the values indicate that the apparatus being monitored has moved. When a determination is made that the apparatus being monitored has not moved, the apparatus being monitored is change from a current mode of operations to a different mode of operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Ming Mau, Shamoon Shabudin
  • Publication number: 20070081144
    Abstract: A discrimination medium on which printing can be freely performed, which cannot be easily falsified, in which the authenticity can be easily discriminated by unique appearance, and which can be produced at low cost, is provided. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer 10 or a multilayer film 5, and a breakable print recording layer are laminated in the discrimination medium. The multilayer film 5 has plural light transparent films which are laminated and are different from each other in refraction index. Therefore, the discrimination medium has unique optical characteristics such that a character, a symbol, a pattern, a figure formed by printing by a thermal printer or the like changes in color depending on the viewing angle. A discrimination method using the above optical characteristics of the discrimination medium is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070081145
    Abstract: An electronic imaging apparatus includes a connecting section connected to an optical apparatus; an optical element having a preset transmittance with respect to light in a preset wavelength region, incident from the optical apparatus; and an electronic image sensor receiving the light transmitted through the optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Atsushi Yonetani, Yukio Nonoda, Kazuhiko Yamanouchi
  • Publication number: 20070081146
    Abstract: A position detecting device includes: a liquid having a free surface; a light source configured to irradiate a light flux toward the free surface of the liquid; a dark field pattern provided between the liquid and the light source and configured to form a pattern of the light flux irradiated by the light source; a light-receiving sensor configured to detect the pattern of the light flux reflected by the free surface of the liquid; and an arithmetic unit configured to calculate a position of the pattern from results of detection of the light-receiving sensor, add the results of the detection of the light-receiving sensor in an X-direction and a Y-direction of the light-receiving sensor, and calculate the position of the pattern from an output obtained by adding the results of the detection in the X-direction and the Y-direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Kaoru Kumagai, Shinji Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20070081147
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method for measuring the position and/or orientation of a first element (3) with respect to a second element (2) of a vehicle, on which this first element (3) is mounted in a movable manner, with the aid of an optical measuring system with at least one camera unit (1), whereby at least three references (4,5,6), not laying on a strait line, are provided on one of these elements (3) such that these references (4,5,6) can be perceived by the camera unit (1). Said camera unit (1) is mounted fixed with respect to the other element (4) and the position of said references (4,5,6) is measured with said optical measuring system for successive positions and/or orientations of the element (3) on which these references (4,5,6) are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Alex Van Den Bossch
  • Publication number: 20070081148
    Abstract: A method for measuring an alignment of a detector is described. The method includes determining, by a processor, the alignment of the detector with respect to a collimated radiation beam. The determination of the alignment is based on a plurality of signals from a first cell of the detector and a second cell of the detector, and is independent of a shape of the collimated radiation beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Edward Chao, Thomas Toth, Tanvi Kachhy, Bruce Dunham, Abdelaziz Ikhlef
  • Publication number: 20070081149
    Abstract: A device for measuring the intensity of incoming light is disclosed. This device includes a rotatable light blocking unit which interrupts incident signal light at short regular intervals. The device also includes a light source which emits certain light different from the signal light while the signal light is interrupted by the block unit, and a measurement unit for measuring intensity values of the signal light and the certain light. A correction unit is provided for correcting the measured signal light intensity based on the certain light intensity. A calculator unit calculates a correction value through comparison of the intensity of the certain light to a reference value. The correction unit uses this correction value to correct the signal light intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicants: Advanced Mask Inspection Technology Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Noboru Kobayashi, Riki Ogawa, Masayuki Hideshima, Hiroyuki Nagahama, Koji Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20070081150
    Abstract: The invention is a method of inspecting a semiconductor wafer surface for scratches. The method includes positioning a semiconductor wafer for illumination by a radiation source and adjacent a background material that will absorb radiation from the radiation source, directing radiation at a surface of the wafer from the radiation source that has a wavelength that will be absorbed by the fundamental absorption of the wafer, filtering or otherwise limiting the radiation to allow only radiation having wavelengths that are absorbed by the fundamental absorption of the wafer to pass, and detecting radiation scattered on the surface of the wafer and filtered, by position, to thereby identify the location of the scratches on the surface of the wafer, while the absorption of the background material prevents other radiation from the source from interfering with the detection of the scratch-scattered radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Leonard, Jason Jenny
  • Publication number: 20070081151
    Abstract: Methods and systems for inspection of a wafer are provided. One method includes illuminating the wafer with light at a first wavelength that penetrates into the wafer and light at a second wafer that does not substantially penetrate into the wafer. The method also includes generating output signals responsive to light from the wafer resulting from the illuminating step. In addition, the method includes detecting defects on the wafer using the output signals. The method further includes determining if the defects are subsurface defects or surface defects using the output signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: David Shortt, Stephen Biellak, Alexander Belyaev
  • Publication number: 20070081152
    Abstract: A disclosed optical scanning device scans an object scanning surface with a light beam projected from a light source and traveling through an optical system. The optical scanning device includes a liquid crystal element configured to modulate a phase. The liquid crystal element is driven by electric signals and provided on a light path between the light source and the object scanning surface. The liquid crystal element generates different power components in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction under temperature variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Taku Amada
  • Publication number: 20070081153
    Abstract: A method of automatically focusing a microscope having a light source, an objective lens or lens system, a means to direct incident light through the objective lens or lens system to be reflected by the object, an aperture to limit the spatial extent of the incident light and serve as an illumination pupil, a means to direct at least some of the reflected light to an imaging system, and an imaging system to image the reflected light so directed is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: AOTI Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hammond, Gregory Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20070081154
    Abstract: A dark field surface inspection tool and system are disclosed herein. The tool includes an illumination source capable of scanning a light beam onto an inspection surface. Light scattered by each inspection point is captured as image data by a photo detector array arranged at a fourier plane. The images captured are adaptively filtered to remove a portion of the bright pixels from the images to generate filtered images. The filtered images are then analyzed to detect defects in the inspection surface. Methods of the invention include using die-to-die comparison to identify bright portions of scattering patterns and generate unique image filters associated with those patterns. The associated images are then filtered to generate filtered images which are then used to detect defects. Also, data models of light scattering behavior can be used to generate filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Evan Mapoles, Grace Chen, Christopher Bevis, David Shortt
  • Publication number: 20070081155
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling a liquid sample, wherein the apparatus includes integrated sample processing and sample evaluating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Carol Schembri, Zhenghua Ji, Hongfeng Yin, William McAllister
  • Publication number: 20070081156
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a portable and/or handheld bioagent detector and methodology described herein that is based in part on advanced Raman Chemical Imaging (“RCI”) technology. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the detection system may include a fiber array spectral translator (“FAST”) and may also include a probe which may include a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera. The probe alleviates the need to place the main instrument close to an unconfined release of a potentially hazardous material and facilitates analysis of a sample that is situated in a hard-to-reach location while minimizing contamination of the detector and operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: CHEMIMAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Treado, Thomas Voigt, Wesley Hutchison
  • Publication number: 20070081157
    Abstract: The disclosure, in one aspect, provides a method for estimating a property of a fluid that includes: pumping an ultraviolet (UV) light into a fluid withdrawn from a formation downhole at a wavelength that produces light due to the Raman effect at wavelengths that are shorter than the substantial wavelengths of fluorescent light produced from the fluid; detecting a spectrum corresponding to the Raman effect light (“Raman spectrum”); and processing the detected Raman spectrum at one or more selected wavelengths to estimate a property of the fluid. In another aspect, the disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a laser that induces UV light at a selected wavelength into a fluid in a chamber, a detector that detects Raman scattered light at wavelengths shorter than the wavelengths of the fluorescent light scattered by the fluid, and a processor that analyzes a spectrum corresponding the Raman scattered light at a selected wavelength to estimate a property of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Sebastian Csutak, Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20070081158
    Abstract: A class of aperture coded spectrometer is optimized for the spectral characterization of diffuse sources. The instrument achieves high throughput and high spatial resolution by replacing the slit of conventional dispersive spectrometers with a spatial filter or mask. A number of masks can be used including Harmonic masks, Legendre masks, and Hadamard masks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: David Brady, Scott McCain, Michael Gehm, Michael Sullivan, Prasant Potuluri
  • Publication number: 20070081159
    Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring and holding liquid samples and methods using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Kristin Giffin, John Kralik, William Wilson
  • Publication number: 20070081160
    Abstract: A spectrophotometer is provided whereby stable measurement can be performed with high processing rate and high accuracy, in online non-destructive examination of fruit or vegetables or the like using near infra-red light or the like, wherein there is no possibility of saturation of the data level or of the data level being too small and changes in rate of feeding can be dealt with by making use of for example the differences in density, in thickness of the skin, and in size of the fruit or vegetables, which are found even in the same type of fruit or vegetables. Light that has passed through the fruit or vegetables or the like is divided into different spectral components and received at two locations by a main light reception unit and a sample-use light reception unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: SAIKA TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Takashi Otoi
  • Publication number: 20070081161
    Abstract: A method for detecting disposition of plurality of exposure shot areas of an object that is to be exposed includes a first detection step of detecting the alignment marks on the object, an evaluation step of evaluating randomness of the alignment marks based on the detection result by the first detection step, a determination step of determining a number smaller than the total number of alignment marks on the object based on the evaluation result by the evaluation step, and a second detection step of detecting the disposition of the plurality of exposure shot areas by detecting alignment marks corresponding to the number determined by the determination step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Takahiro MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20070081162
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the concentration of a specific gas component of a gas mixture including another gas whose concentration is independently known using light absorption spectroscopy are provided. A method and an apparatus for assessing human airway inflammation by measuring the concentration of exhaled NO and CO2 present in orally exhaled breath using light absorption spectroscopy are also provided. NO concentration is determined at the time during breath sampling corresponding to a known exhaled CO2 concentration. Methods and apparatus are further provided for measuring NO concentration in orally exhaled human breath that analyze breath emanating from the lower airways and lungs, while excluding breath from the nasal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Ekips Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Roller, Khosrow Namjou, James Jeffers
  • Publication number: 20070081163
    Abstract: A system and method provides for chemical and/or biochemical analysis using a microarray interrogated by a resonantly scanned beam of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Minhua Liang, Bernard Murray, Christopher Wiklof
  • Publication number: 20070081164
    Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope is described that includes at least one laser gyroscope block and a dither motor, where the gyroscope blocks are configured to engage the dither motor. The dither motor has an outer ring, a hub section, at least one radially extending reed extending between the outer ring and the hub section, and at least one piezoelectric transducer attached the reed. The piezoelectric transducer includes a common piezo-ceramic having a contiguous void line that allows for a separate electrical connection to be made to electrode surfaces on each side of the void line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Christina Schober
  • Publication number: 20070081165
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor includes at least one photonic crystal structure having at least one optical resonance with a resonance frequency and a resonance lineshape. The acoustic sensor further includes a housing substantially surrounding the at least one photonic crystal structure and mechanically coupled to the at least one photonic crystal structure. At least one of the resonance frequency and the resonance lineshape is responsive to acoustic waves incident upon the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Onur Kilic, Olav Solgaard, Michel Digonnet, Gordon Kino
  • Publication number: 20070081166
    Abstract: Portable optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices including at least one mirror configured to scan at least two directions are provided. The portable OCT devices are configured to provide a portable interface to a sample that can be aligned to the sample without repositioning the sample. Related systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: William Brown, Eric Buckland, Joseph Izatt